Wet ’n’ Wild SplashTown In Spring Adds Some Thrills To Their Food Options

Wet ’n’ Wild SplashTown In Spring has been a source of summertime fun for families and thrill seekers alike for over 32 years. While it’s known for water slides and thrill rides, many potential visitors might not have considered the food. However, “foodie appeal” is something that is on the minds of entertainment venue managers more than ever before.

In 2014, Wet ’n’ Wild SplashTown renovated its attractions. At the same time, the park expanded its menu and added an indoor dining area. There are new dishes for the 2018 season, so park representatives invited Houston Food Finder to check them out.

Director of sales and marketing Rosie Shepard and food services manager Joe Sanchez walked us through the offerings. These included carnitas tacos, the Kickin’ Chicken Taco, the Angry Bird and Fried Cookie Dough.

Carnitas have to meet high standards in Houston since there’s great Mexican food to be had all over town. SplashTown’s didn’t disappoint and features fresh corn tortillas and tender, flavorful pork. The lime crema added bright citrus flavor that was just the right compliment for the pork as well as a scattering of pico de gallo.

The Kickin’ Chicken Street Taco includes fried chicken tenders wrapped in crispy bacon and held by doubled-up corn tortillas. The combination of the spicy chicken and the sriracha-jalapeño-ranch sauce provides a nice level of heat to the taco. It’s a fun dish with a lot of different flavors, and the accompanying salsa verde is quite good, too.

The Angry Bird has spicy chicken tenders like those used in the Kickin’ Chicken Taco, minus the bacon, but served on a bun with pepper jack cheese that’s also dressed with the sriracha-jalapeño-ranch sauce. The chicken tenders can also be ordered plain and that is what we sampled. These are crispy, with balanced seasoning and a moderate heat level. The sauce was served on the side and is great for dipping.

The Fried Cookie Dough is quite a treat. As the name implies, it is chocolate chip cookie dough enrobed in batter and deep-fried. The result is a slightly crunchy texture that leaves the cookie dough hot but not cooked. The effect is similar to a lava cake.

Other dishes include the Texas Luau Sandwich with smoked pork, grilled pineapple and bacon; the Texan Burger with a one-third pound beef patty topped with onion rings and BBQ sauce and, on the dessert side, Funnel Cakes. These come in Blackberry Cobbler, Peaches ‘n’ Cream and Upside Down Pineapple Cake varieties.

Sanchez also pointed out that there are a number of healthy food options that are quite popular with parents. Those include wraps, salads, fruit and yogurt. Speaking of parents, there are also some adult beverages on offer including piña coladas and daiquiris. The cocktails are offered at two of the outdoor concession stands.

A selection of dishes at Wet ‘n’ Wild SplashTown available for catered events at the park. Photo by Jim Robertson.

The park also offers a catering menu to support events held at the corporate and family event pavilions. The dishes include entrees, side dishes and desserts. Some of the most notable are barbecued brisket and sausage; macaroni and cheese; corn on the cob; and green beans. A number of cakes, tarts, and pies are also offered. According to Sanchez, the park can handle a wide range of events, from small family gatherings up to corporate shindigs with thousands of attendees.

The park menu has evolved each year since the 2014 renovation to ensure that it stays current and continues to satisfy visitors. Sanchez says the park surveys season ticket holders, reviews receipts and visits the Houston Rodeo and State Fair to look for ways to evolve the menu.

In all, Wet ’n’ Wild SplashTown has six concession stands, the indoor restaurant and dining area, five corporate event pavilions and a number of family cabanas available.

In other words, it’s not just a water park but also a fun place to eat.